Philosophical Perspectives on the Meaning of Life and Their Effect on Mental Health in Europe

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the philosophical perspectives on the meaning of life and their effect on mental health in Eastern Europe. Materials and Methods: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study found that that life inherently lacks meaning, urging individuals to create their own purpose. This perspective can foster resilience and personal growth as individuals take responsibility for their life's meaning, potentially improving mental health by promoting a sense of autonomy and empowerment. Conversely, the absence of an inherent meaning can also lead to existential despair and anxiety, particularly in those struggling to find or create personal significance. In contrast, religious and spiritual philosophies often provide a predefined meaning of life through belief systems and doctrines. For instance, Christianity and Buddhism offer narratives that imbue life with purpose, whether through divine plans or spiritual enlightenment. These perspectives can provide comfort and a sense of community, positively impacting mental health by offering stability, hope, and a framework for understanding suffering. However, rigid adherence to these beliefs can also result in mental health challenges if individuals experience doubt or fail to meet perceived spiritual expectations. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Existential theory, meaning-making theory and positive psychology theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the philosophical perspectives on the meaning of life and their effect on mental health in Eastern Europe. In clinical practice, mental health professionals should integrate philosophical perspectives into therapeutic interventions tailored to individual beliefs and cultural backgrounds. Policy initiatives in mental health should prioritize cultural competence and diversity by integrating philosophical perspectives into service delivery frameworks.